Kentucky

The Blue Grass state borders seven other states and is one of four that calls itself a commonwealth. While coal extraction is a significant share of the Kentucky economy, the state is also a major manufacturer of automobiles, has a thriving agriculture and cattle industry, and is known around the world for its horse breeding and thoroughbred racing. Kentucky is also a state that is working hard to address serious fiscal challenges. Pew’s evidence-based research has helped Kentucky develop policies for cutting corrections and juvenile justice costs and recidivism, reducing the state’s unfunded pension liabilities, and supporting an innovative home visiting program.

$26.2 billion unfunded pension liability in 2012

$87,000 annual cost of holding a juvenile in a secure facility

2.9% reduction in tax revenue in 2013 from peak quarter adjusted for inflation

Our Work

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Half of secondary school students consume at least one snack food a day at school. Yet vending machines and snack bars in many schools have historically offered an abundance of candy, sugar-filled drinks, and other low-nutrient, high-calorie items rather than healthy snacks. Currently, 43 states have policies determining the types of snacks that schools may sell to students. However,... Read More

The data presented here are from the State Health Care Spending Project’s analysis of the impact of Medicaid on the states, including trends in spending and enrollment and the anticipated effects of the Affordable Care Act. Read More

In a Sept. 26 speech to the Congressional Black Caucus, Attorney General Eric Holder recognized Georgia, Hawaii, and Kentucky for passing legislation to improve their juvenile justice systems and announced that they will receive federal funds to support implementation of their new laws’ provisions. The state reforms rely on research-based practices to protect public safety, hold youth... Read More

News

In a Sept. 26 speech to the Congressional Black Caucus, Attorney General Eric Holder recognized Georgia, Hawaii, and Kentucky for passing legislation to improve their juvenile justice systems and announced that they will receive federal funds to support implementation of their new laws’ provisions. The state reforms rely on research-based practices to protect public safety, hold youth... Read More

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed a comprehensive package of reforms Aug. 28 that are designed to improve the effectiveness of the state’s juvenile justice system and save the commonwealth up to $24 million over five years. The legislation, Senate Bill 200, follows successful reforms of Kentucky’s adult criminal justice system in 2011. Read More

The Pew Charitable Trusts is producing a series of briefs that highlight promising state practices in home visiting. The featured state initiatives can serve as models for improving the efficiency and efficacy of state home visiting investments in order to expand the availability of high-quality services to more at-risk families. Read More

On April 4, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed into law a measure that sets up one of the strongest home visiting systems in the country by building on the strength of Kentucky’s flagship home visiting program for new and expectant parents, the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) Program. HANDS achieves outcomes such as lowering the rates of preterm births and infant... Read More

Research & Analysis

Half of secondary school students consume at least one snack food a day at school. Yet vending machines and snack bars in many schools have historically offered an abundance of candy, sugar-filled drinks, and other low-nutrient, high-calorie items rather than healthy snacks. Currently, 43 states have policies determining the types of snacks that schools may sell to students. However,... Read More

The data presented here are from the State Health Care Spending Project’s analysis of the impact of Medicaid on the states, including trends in spending and enrollment and the anticipated effects of the Affordable Care Act. Read More

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The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.

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